Urban Ahlin is Sweden’s Ambassador to the United States. Sweden last year became NATO’s newest member. “I think this summit in The Hague will also show that we are united, not only that very much that we also stand that European countries are, you know, spending more on defense because we see the threats and we want to militarily deter the enemy.”

The U.S. and other world leaders are preparing for NATO’s 2025 summit where a new defense spending pledge will be negotiated.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his NATO counterparts are gathering this week for what might be a historic summit

During the two-day summit in the Dutch city of The Hague that kicks off Tuesday, allies will agree to dedicate 5% of their gross domestic product to defense, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during a news conference in Brussels.

NATO members agreed to a big increase in their defence spending target to 5% of gross domestic product, as demanded by President Donald Trump, but Spain said it did not need to comply just days before a summit in The Hague meant to be a show of unity.